Teaching & Learning English
Grade 8 ELL are about to embark on an interesting project about how English language is used by people outside the main English speaking countries. It will help them a great deal if you could add your voice to this discussion by answering one or more of the following questions: How does it feel to … Read more
Task: Share your personal answer to the question using the comments section below. The Question: Why might there be more than one ‘correct’ way to speak English? Note that the purpose of this exercise is for you to share your own opinion. Please try to refrain from asking AI what your opinion is; try to … Read more
My first ever middle school performance in appreciation of Shakespeare’s writing took place on the 28th March 2024 and was a great success. However, getting to the point where English Language & Literature (ELL) students across three grades were able to successfully coordinate and perform different Shakespearean pieces was quite a journey. In this article … Read more
My grade 6 students are writing a speech drawing on our analysis of some of Shakespeare’s famous speeches. Here is my example: Is Shakespeare relevant in the world today? I might just as well ask if you prick Shylock, doth he not bleed? Doth a bear not poop in the woods? In short, you do … Read more
This article reports on the addition of two further columns to the Discussion Skills Assessment (DSA) instrument: Columns L and M as shown in the screenshot below. I have been using the DSA to assess my IB MYP English Language and Literature (ELL) students during student-led seminar discussions in class. My previous research (Clark & … Read more
This page introduces my work on the development of the Discussion Skills Assessment (DSA) instrument and its current status at the time of writing. Historical Development and Rationale The student-led seminar approach I have been pioneering in different educational contexts was first inspired by a student-led seminar activity that formed part of the University of … Read more
This post introduces a pedagogical approach I have been pioneering that might usefully contribute to discussions of transforming learning spaces to increase student ownership within the English for Academic Purposes (EAP) classroom.